A Couple of Blogging Tips, and an Ethical Question

I have no idea where the days are going...it's definitely that time of year...but I have missed all of you!

As I was clicking around and through the One Room Challenge Linking Party, I noticed a theme that was bothering me. I made a mental note of it (first mistake) and then forgot to tell all of you about it (second mistake). I like to think it is my premenopausal brain, and not early dementia...you just never know...or not know, bad dementia joke.

Many of you bloggers don't have your name on your blog. I know that most of us want to remain semi-anonymous, so I get it. However, it also prevents you from having a better relationship with your audience. For myself, I use it as a screening mechanism that I will tell you about in a moment.

I remain optimistically hopeful that I can cure the internet of 'No Reply' Bloggers. Never did I try, and fail, at this more than during the linking party. As I desperately tried to reply back to so many of you and continually found that you were a 'no-reply' (as the name implies, you cannot receive a reply back...it's not about the ability to leave a comment), I managed to find my way back to your blog. Again, so many of you don't have a direct link back to your site. Google + is the worst for that and trust me when I say that is the easiest form of free traffic that you are missing. Once I found your blog, I could not find an email address. Seriously, I have devoted 3 or 4 clicks into this feat, and I did not have it in me to hunt all over and into your profile in hopes of obtaining an email address. So I moved on.

Please put your name and email address on your blog!

If you are thinking, Linda, you know my name. Yes, I know many of your names...however...back to the early dementia, I cannot remember it when you may be the 12th blog I have visited that day. I don't have the energy or time to go into your profile to find this information. And if I don't, neither do PR firms or Corporations.

This brings me to my screening mechanism that I mentioned earlier. I receive lots of requests from individuals, Corporations, and PR Firms wanting to reach my audience. I turn down most of them, and I always tell you when I am working with an outside source on a post. In fact, I recently turned down requests from 3 extremely well know corporations because I did not like the terms. 

Company #1 wanted me to join their 'network' of bloggers. You know I am all about networking, so I asked them to provide me with a list of the other bloggers in that network. Their reply was "that's confidential" (hardly a networking opportunity). I graciously declined that offer, moreover, my Pinterest following is 400% larger than theirs.

Company #2 wanted me to feature something that I felt was insulting to women. This is a National brand that should reach my audience, but not in a condescending way....EVER!! I actually gave them my two cents on that one and probably won't hear back from them.... until they change PR Firms, and that happens more often than you would think.

Company #3 wanted me to feature their product. A product that I am familiar with, and would  use. I don't want to tell you what I asked them, but the reply back to me we definitely a lie. Again, I graciously declined and gave them a bit of unsolicited advice. I will probably hear back from them when the 'Intern Rotation' at the PR Firm happens.

All of these examples would never have happened if the Corporations mentioned did not refer to me by my first name (displayed on my blog). I will never (politely, anyway) reply back to a request if that person could not be bothered to grab my name off my blog, and use it. Everything else, is a mass produced form letter and they really don't want me.....so why would I want them?

That's more than enough rambling....now for the ethical question;

If you find money in the pocket of clothes when you are doing laundry, do consider that a tip?